O Christmas Tree (says the Rebel)

My Christmas tree does not seem to follow the current trend. It is not monochromatic. It is not designer-worthy. The (many, many) ornaments are hung anywhere I could find a spot. (No symmetry here!). There is no theme...(unless you count family and love and the theme!)

Yet each year I cannot wait to get the tree ready and the ornaments out of storage. It takes me several hours to decorate the main tree, and I do every single light and ornament all by myself.

Unless you count Abraham.  He's pretty good help. He loves to pick any ornament up that I drop....and chew it before he (begrudgingly) gives it back to me!

 

Every year when I get the ornaments out I get to take a trip

down the memory lane of my little family. 

It is a sweet and wonderful trip.

As the children or husband walk in or through the room

I pass along the story of this ornament or 

that ornament. I ask them if they remember.

Most of the times they do. 

But they usually aren't all choked up about it like I am ! ha!

The ornament above was made by my daughter Taylor.

I gave her the idea and she ran with it.

I love it.

She made 12 of them and gave them away.

I was a lucky recipient.

Peace On Earth. 

 

This  little plastic snowflake is hands-down my favorite ornament.

My 5 children are ages 1 thru 8 in this picture.

8,7,5,2,1 to be exact. 

I had a class I was taking in Tulsa and the seven of us drove to Tulsa together. He dropped me off at class and was left alone with the five children.

On his own, (!!!!), without any prodding,

TOTALLY his idea,

he took the children to 

an outdoor Santa

and had their picture made with

the jolly old guy.

Then he bought the package deal

and had it made into an ornament for me.

When they picked me up from class

the kids had a package for me.

I opened it up and

found this.

I knew then I would love it

as much as anything he could ever give me.

 I get choked up just typing this!!

Their ages now

28, 27, 25, 22, 21.

 Time flies. Really.

The tree is also full of lots of variations of two of my favorite things: Santa Clauses and The University of Oklahoma!

This Santa is an Oklahoma Santa.

His coat is painted with Oklahoma symbols.

I got this on Oklahoma's 100th birthday.

We are a young state.

The Nativity we bought my youngest

played Baby Jesus

in the Christmas Pageant.

It says 1989 on the back.

Luke was a very good Baby Jesus.

He never let out a peep!

I made the Santa for an ornament exchange on year.

I always keep one for myself. 

I think this one is circa 1991.

Santa and Baby Jesus. Christmas smiles.

Pike's Peak when my son Coulter played football against

The Air Force Academy.

The redbird is my grandparents.

The snowman is our snowy Kansas years.

Coulter and Luke had the same first grade teacher.

Aren't these the best gifts she had her class make?

I smile every year I unwrap these.

Thank you Mrs.Teacher.

My oldest, Fielding Jourdan, circa 1982.

The only year he had Christmas without brothers or sisters!

I love this picture.

I also see my collie Charlie in this picture.

I had a collie dog for 15 years when I was growing up.

Now Fielding has a dog named Charlie!

I love all the BELIEVE signs that come out at Christmas.

I just hope we BELIEVE all throughout the year.

The Santa football player represents the

years and years we (LOVED) spending at 

ballgames with the children.

My blonde-headed daughter was an 

energetic cheerleader

for years

in high school and college. 

Rah Rah Annabelle!

Another football. One of many!

This Santa says "Merry Christmas Y'all"....so Oklahoman!

The little red and white flat postcard ornaments

that have been in many of the pictures 

are from 

Nell Hill's. 

She has wonderful ornaments.  And the best part is they are affordable!

 

 I got this ornament the year

we moved back to Oklahoma

after being gone over 17 years.

It's good to be home.

You know you belong to the land....

 

No explanation needed. Just SO true!

The little girl in the rocker with the cat is another

hubby special.

He picked me up at work when we were in college

and had this for me.

The little figures in the beds I got in Switzerland.

The popcorn garland is plastic. And cute.

And has been on my tree every single year for 32 years!

The candy garland has also been on my tree

every year 

for the past 

32 years.

Every single year I add new ornaments to the tree,

representing what has gone on in the life of our family.

It is a search at times to find "just the right" ornament.

This little patrolman ornament represents my grandfather

who was in the first graduating class of 

Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

Although if you ask my husband,

he would say it represents 

my need for speed and the subsequent problems with that! ha!

Here is a close-up of those Nell Hill ornaments. Cuteness.

Why look. If you look closely, you see little Abe right there

on the tree! Of course I have ornaments representing

each of our pets! 

They are family too!

I  like love to sit at night in the dark and look at the lights on the tree.

Abe recruited help. Boomer found an empty box.

 

Every single year I think the tree is the prettiest one I have ever seen.

I hope I always think that!

P.S. Yes, I did straighten the leaning Santa on the top.

I hope you enjoyed my tree that is 

oh-so-not-vogue!

....Just decorated with lots of love.
Check out The Tablescaper and her Seasonal Sunday's. What fun!